If
you have the acute coronary syndrome, you have one or more conditions caused by a
blockage of blood flow to your heart muscle. This is a medical emergency,
because you may be having a heart attack, a condition in which your heart muscle
begins to die. Your heart is a
muscular organ that pumps blood containing the oxygen
and nutrients your body needs. The main pumping chamber of your heart is the
left ventricle. When your left ventricle contracts, it sends oxygen-rich blood
to your body through a large artery called the aorta. Connected to your aorta
are small arteries called coronary arteries. Blood flows from your aorta,
through the coronary arteries, to supply your heart muscle with oxygen and
nutrients. If you have the acute coronary syndrome, blood flow through your
coronary arteries is severely reduced or completely blocked. One possible cause
of reduced blood flow is atherosclerosis. In this condition, a build-up of a
fatty substance called plaque can narrow your coronary arteries. If this plaque
ruptures, a blood clot can form and block the artery. A blood clot is the most
common cause of coronary artery blockage. Other, less common causes of reduced
blood flow include coronary artery spasm or dissection. In a coronary artery
spasm, triggers such as drugs, smoking, cold weather, and extreme stress or
emotions can cause a temporary and sudden tightening of a coronary artery. During
a coronary artery dissection, the inside wall of one of your coronary arteries separates,
which can block blood flow. Regardless of the cause, a blockage in either
coronary artery prevents the oxygen and nutrients in your blood from reaching
the part of your heart supplied by the artery. As a result, heart muscle in
that area starts to die. The death of part of your heart muscle is called a heart
attack. It's also known as a myocardial infarction or MI. A blocked coronary
artery may also because you to feel sudden pain are comfort, tightening, or a
burning sensation in your chest called angina. This pain may extend to your upper
abdomen, shoulders, arms, neck, and lower jaw. If you have angina when you're
at rest or frequent angina that prevents even moderate physical activity, you
have unstable angina, which is the main symptom of the acute coronary syndrome. Other
symptoms of the acute coronary syndrome include shortness of breath, dizziness,
nausea, and sweating. If you've had a heart attack or have other types of acute
coronary syndrome, your doctor may prescribe oxygen therapy to get more oxygen
into your blood. You may take aspirin or other prescription blood-thinner drugs
to prevent blood clots. Thrombolytic also known as clot-buster drugs, may be
used to break up any existing blood clots. Drugs such as nitroglycerin and
morphine will relax your coronary arteries and relieve the pain of angina. You
may also receive drugs called beta-blockers that slow down your heart and
reduce its need for oxygen. Your doctor may also recommend immediate surgical
procedures, such as coronary angioplasty, in which a balloon-tipped catheter inflates
inside your blocked coronary artery to open it. may leave behind a mesh-like device called a stent After inflating, the balloon catheter may leave behind a
mesh-like device called a stent to hold your artery open. Or you may have a coronary
artery bypass graft or CABG. CABG is a surgical procedure in which the blocked
areas of the coronary arteries are bypassed with veins or artificial graft
material. Seek treatment immediately if you have the symptoms of the acute coronary syndrome.
